Red Ridge in the foreground seen from Mount Sparrowhawk in the fall.
Red
Ridge (NW
ridge approach)
Kananaskis Park
February 14, 2004
When we climbed Red Ridge last summer, I realized it
would make a good winter ascent. Here's what I wrote on the Rocky Mountain Books Forum: "On Saturday we climbed Red Ridge in Kananaskis. Starting south of the Sparrowhawk Recreation parking lot, we headed up the NW ridge on snowshoes. The grade was easy and after 2 hours we popped out of the trees onto the ridge and into sunshine. This was about halfway, both in elevation and in distance. Much of the ridge was dry at this point. Stashing our snowshoes we continued up the ridge on foot. We hit a couple of deep snow pockets, but after that it was careful scrambling in the snow and rocks. Near the summit we startled four pure white ptarmigans. 2.5 hours after dropping our snowshoes we were on the top (GR079891, Elevation: 2647 m, height gain: 929 m) admiring the views of Mount Sparrowhawk and Mount Bogart. Coming back took 2.5 hours." MOVIE (1:00) |
Red Ridge
in the foreground seen from Mount Sparrowhawk in the fall.
The grade up the wooded slope is gentle.
Coming out of the forest
The view ahead after leaving the forest
We drop our snowshoes and set off on foot. I like to
stick my snowshoes
in the snow so I can spot them easily on our return.
Shortly after dropping our snowshoes, we hit deep snow but it doesn't last long.
Watch out for holes hidden under snow!
Scrambling on the ridge. Spray Lakes sets the background.
Easy scrambling as we head to the summit.
Partial
panorama from the summit. My batteries
died so I couldn't take the entire 360°! Mount Bogart in the centre.
82 J/14 Spray Lakes Reservoir
